Prep Year in Review : HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES

The class of ’88 featured an exceptional group of athletes whose feats span years, records and championships. They are known by teammates, opponents and followers of high school sports for their accomplishments, but what do they remember most? Here are some responses:

ADAM KEEFE

Woodbridge basketball player

Accomplishments: Keefe twice led the Warriors to the 2-A championship game. In 1987, Woodbridge won the title and went on to win the state Division II championship. He ranks 11th among the state’s all-time leading scorers with 2,212 points. He will attend Stanford in the fall.

Memorable moments: “That’s easy. The highlight was winning the state title. We played almost a perfect game. Six players on the team scored career highs in that game. We couldn’t have played any better than we did in that game.�

DOUG SAUNDERS

Esperanza baseball player

Accomplishments: Saunders played two years on the Esperanza baseball team--as a shortstop, second baseman and relief pitcher--helping the team to the 5-A championship game this past season and the 4-A title game in 1987. He batted .494 this season and had a 1.25 earned-run average. He set single-season school records for saves (8), runs (39), hits (46) and doubles (18). Saunders signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Illinois and was drafted by the New York Mets.

Memorable moments: “Playing in Dodger Stadium and Angel stadium (in Southern Section championship games). It’s a big thrill playing in big league stadiums when you’re only 18 years old. Not a lot of people get to feel that. It hurt a lot to lose both games; still, playing in a big league park will always mean something special.�

MICHELE GRANGER

Valencia softball pitcher

Accomplishments: Granger is the national high school record-holder in career strikeouts (1,635) and no-hitters (36). She had nine no-hitters this season, including three perfect games. She ended her career with a 40-strikeout performance in a 25-inning loss to La Mirada in the 3-A semifinals. Granger will attend the University of California in the fall.

Memorable moments: “There isn’t one thing. There’s so many. It’s just all the people that I met. The various people from different backgrounds that all came together on our team. The people I met, I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Just all the friends that I made.�

BRET JOHNSON

El Toro football player

Accomplishments: Johnson did not lose a game he started in his final two seasons at quarterback for El Toro, leading the Chargers to the Southern Conference championship in both years. He was named the state player of the year by the Cal-Hi Sports newsletter last season. Johnson will attend UCLA in the fall.

Memorable moments: “I walked into the huddle at the Santa Ana Bowl (in last season’s Southern Conference semifinal) with one second to go, looking at 10 teammates, and I knew it was going to be the last time I would ever play with them. I looked at them and said, ‘We’ll do it.’ Even though I really thought our season was over. I went back seven steps and threw the ball as far as I could and never saw what happened. The next thing I knew, I was being mobbed by my coaches. That’s a moment I’ll never forget.�

( Johnson’s 51-yard touchdown pass to Adam Brass with no time left gave El Toro a 13-12 victory over Santa Ana and advanced the Chargers to the Southern Conference championship game against Los Alamitos, which they won, 36-6. )

TRICIA STRINGAM

Mission Viejo basketball player

Accomplishments: Stringam helped a young Mission Viejo team win the South Coast League championship last season. She averaged 17.9 points and was named the league’s most valuable player. She helped the Diablos win the 3-A championship in 1987. Stringam will attend the University of Hawaii in the fall.

Memorable moments: “My junior year, when we won the Southern Section (3-A) championship. The friendships that I’ve made will last forever. Having my dad leading cheers in the stands during timeouts.�